Connect

One of the ways we at UVA Health can provide the best care possible to our patients is to ensure we are communicating effectively with them. A language barrier can make it difficult for some of our patients to express their health concerns, understand care instructions, or otherwise interact with our staff.

We currently have a small team of interpreters to assist with communication between care providers and non-English speakers, but we need more care providers to become approved bilingual speakers. (Only interpreters and approved bilingual providers can speak with patients in a language other than English.)

“It’s a priority within the organization to assess those providers and staff members whose second language is among the most frequently found among our limited English proficient patient population,” says Sylvana Fernandez-Ellauri, Certified Medical Interpreter.

UVA Health wants to make sure we are utilizing our workforce’s skills to their full potential by assessing more providers in the most frequently spoken languages, like Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic, Nepali, Russian, and others.

Become an Approved Bilingual Provider

To become an approved bilingual provider, and thus be able to communicate with patients in their preferred language, team members must pass a proficiency assessment.

The language proficiency test is available to “any team member whose role requires medical information or information of other nature that may directly impact patient’s care be asked, exchanged, or disclosed,” says Fernandez-Ellauri, a Spanish interpreter.

The test is an over-the-phone evaluation by a third-party agency that takes about 30 minutes. The test includes four sections: warmup, Q&A, role play, and wind down.

For Spanish-speaking team members, a pre-assessment will be completed over the phone with the UVA Health Language Assistance Services Department before scheduling the test.

Test takers must demonstrate a “general professional proficiency” in the areas of grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, fluency, cultural appropriacy/functional expertise, and conversation strategy.

Test results are usually received the following day, and if you receive a passing score, you can begin using the second language immediately.

For more information or to schedule an assessment, call 434.982.1794 or email rlangservices@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu.

UVA Is Committed to Serving Patients in the Language They Understand

Medical Center policy 0156 : Language, Interpretive, and Adaptive Aids for Persons with Disabilities or Limited English Proficiency provides interpreter services for all patients with limited proficiency in English.

If you have a patient who needs interpretation, the following resources are available:

• In-person interpreters (call 2-1795 for availability)
  • UVA Health has 10 nationally certified medical interpreters on-site (nine Spanish, one American Sign Language)
  • Contract interpreters also available on-site through International Rescue Committee
• CyraCom phones (blue phone)
• CyraCom mobile app (available in HealthIT Apps app)
• Dial 7-500 from a desk phone (call 2-1794 to request your department PIN)

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story included examples of job titles that may be eligible for language proficiency testing. If you provide hands-on patient care, email rlangservices@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu to see if you are eligible.